Image Processing Method

1. An image processing method implemented by a processor for projecting a virtual ray onto volume data to create an image, said image processing method comprising: projecting a first virtual ray from a first eye with the processor; acquiring an attenuation position at which a remaining light amount of the first virtual ray attenuates by a predetermined amount; and acquiring a traveling distance of the first virtual ray from the first eye to the attenuation position, wherein to project a second virtual ray with the processor adjacent to the first virtual ray, a projection start position of the second virtual ray is a position offset by a predetermined value in a direction of travel towards a second eye from a traveling position, the traveling position being at the traveling distance from the second eye, wherein the projection start position of the second virtual ray and the second eye are at differing positions, and when a voxel is not transparent at the projection start position of the second virtual ray, the second virtual ray is projected from a position further offset by a predetermined value in the direction of travel towards the second eye.

2. The image processing method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first virtual ray is projected every predetermined interval.

3. The image processing method as claimed in claim 1 wherein a virtual endoscope image is created.

4. The image processing method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the image is created by performing parallel processing.

5. The image processing method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising: projecting a third virtual ray from a third eye; acquiring an attenuation position at which a remaining light amount of the third virtual ray attenuates by a predetermined amount; acquiring a traveling distance of the third virtual ray from the third eye to the attenuation position of the third virtual ray; and further using the traveling distance of the third virtual ray to calculate the predetermined value for offsetting the projection start position of the second virtual ray in the direction of travel towards the second eye.

6. An image processing method implemented by a processor for projecting a virtual ray onto volume data to create an image, said image processing method comprising: projecting a first virtual ray from a first eye with the processor; acquiring an attenuation position at which a remaining light amount of the first virtual ray attenuates by a predetermined amount; acquiring a traveling distance of the first virtual ray from the first eye to the attenuation position, wherein to project a second virtual ray with the processor adjacent to the first virtual ray, a projection start position of the second virtual ray is a position offset by a predetermined value in a direction of travel towards a second eye from a traveling position, the traveling position being at the traveling distance from the second eye, wherein the projection start position of the second virtual ray and the second eye are at differing positions; and projecting a third virtual ray from a third eye; acquiring an attenuation position at which a remaining light amount of the third virtual ray attenuates by a predetermined amount; acquiring a traveling distance of the third virtual ray from the third eye to the attenuation position of the third virtual ray; and further using the traveling distance of the third virtual ray to calculate the predetermined value for offsetting the projection start position of the second virtual ray in the direction of travel towards the second eye, wherein a comparison is made between the traveling distances of the first and third virtual rays, and when the difference between the traveling distances is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the second virtual ray is projected from the second eye.

7. The image processing method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the first virtual ray is projected every predetermined interval.

8. The image processing method as claimed in claim 6 wherein a virtual endoscope image is created.

9. The image processing method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the image is created by performing parallel processing.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, wherein the computer-executable instructions in response to execution by a computing device cause the computing device to perform an image processing method for projecting a virtual ray onto volume data to create an image, comprising: projecting a first virtual ray from a first eye; acquiring an attenuation position at which a remaining light amount of the first virtual ray attenuates by a predetermined amount; and acquiring a traveling distance of the first virtual ray from the first eye to the attenuation position, wherein to project a second virtual ray adjacent to the first virtual ray, a projection start position of the second virtual ray is a position offset by a predetermined value in a direction of travel towards a second eye from a traveling position, the traveling position being at the traveling distance from the second eye, wherein the projection start position of the second virtual ray and the second eye are at differing positions, and wherein when a voxel is not transparent at the projection start position of the second virtual ray, the second virtual ray is projected from a position further offset by a predetermined value in the direction of travel towards the second eye.

11. The image processing method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the first virtual ray is projected every predetermined interval.

12. The image processing method as claimed in claim 10 wherein a virtual endoscope image is created.

13. The image processing method as claimed in claim 10 wherein the image is created by performing parallel processing.

14. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, wherein the computer-executable instructions in response to execution by a computing device cause the computing device to perform an image processing method for projecting a virtual ray onto volume data to create an image, comprising: projecting a first virtual ray from a first eye; acquiring an attenuation position at which a remaining light amount of the first virtual ray attenuates by a predetermined amount; acquiring a traveling distance of the first virtual ray from the first eye to the attenuation position, wherein to project a second virtual ray adjacent to the first virtual ray, a projection start position of the second virtual ray is a position offset by a predetermined value in a direction of travel towards a second eye from a traveling position, the traveling position being at the traveling distance from the second eye, wherein the projection start position of the second virtual ray and the second eye are at differing positions; and projecting a third virtual ray from a third eye; acquiring an attenuation position at which a remaining light amount of the third virtual ray attenuates by a predetermined amount; acquiring a traveling distance of the third virtual ray from the third eye to the attenuation position of the third virtual ray; and further using the traveling distance of the third virtual ray to calculate the predetermined value for offsetting the projection start position of the second virtual ray in the direction of travel towards the second eye, wherein a comparison is made between the traveling distances of the first and third virtual rays, and when the difference between the traveling distances is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, the second virtual ray is projected from the second eye.

15. The image processing method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the first virtual ray is projected every predetermined interval.

16. The image processing method as claimed in claim 14 wherein a virtual endoscope image is created.

17. The image processing method as claimed in claim 14 wherein the image is created by performing parallel processing.